Corsair XENEON 32UHD144

Overview

The Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 features a 32-inch IPS panel with an Ultra HD resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. It stands out from the competition with its support for a native frequency of 144 Hz and two HDMI 2.1 inputs supporting 4K 120 Hz signals and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), ideally suited to the new Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5 game consoles. The monitor also boasts excellent ergonomics and impeccable finishes.

Ultra HD 144Hz monitors are still expensive, and the Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 is no exception, costing around £1,100, which is more expensive than a 48-inch Ultra HD 120Hz OLED TV such as the LG 48C1, which is also FreeSync/G-Sync compatible and has four HDMI 2.1 inputs. However, the latter does not use DisplayPort and is bulky.

Ergonomics

The Corsair Xeneon is relatively sober for a monitor dedicated to video games. The matt black plastic is of good quality and does not retain fingerprints. The edges of the screen are quite thin.

The aluminium stand is solid but stabilises the monitor perfectly. The power supply is external: easier to exchange in case of failure but also bulkier than a model integrated into the monitor.

This Corsair monitor has a height adjustment of 11 cm and a tilt adjustment between -5° and +20°. However, there is no pivot for switching to portrait mode.

The rear of the chassis is entirely made of good quality black grainy plastic. The connections are oriented downwards. The monitor is also compatible with 100 x 100 mm VESA mounts once the stand is removed. The stand also has a standard screw thread on the top for mounting photo mounts (camera, light, etc.), which is very useful for streaming enthusiasts.

The cable management system is remarkably efficient and well thought out. Many cables can be routed through the cable troughs, but they will be partially hidden.

From left to right, the connectivity consists of a 3.5 mm mini-jack audio output, two HDMI 1.4 inputs, two HDMI 2.1 inputs, a DisplayPort input, a USB-C port for display only (Alt Display), a USB-C port and two USB 3.1 ports. This model does not have built-in speakers.

The Corsair monitor has a power button and a joystick for easy access to settings. For us, this is the best way to change settings easily. The menus are clear, and the settings are numerous (brightness, contrast, colour temperature, sharpness, saturation, overdrive, etc.).

The Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 is quite comfortable on our new reference desk, which now measures 120 x 80 cm, a slightly more standard size. At 32cm deep, the stand is very imposing and bulky. It is designed to hold a laptop, but there is no rubber protection or USB-C charging. The latest versions of the Windows and macOS operating systems handle Ultra HD perfectly and allow efficient scaling to 150% for perfect rendering on this 32-inch panel. Text elements are large enough to be readable, and the image is sharp.

On the other hand, the native resolution of 3840 x 2160 px on a 32-inch panel, or 138 pixels per inch (PPI), is usable without scaling, but the elements on the screen remain pretty small. Photo editing software such as Photoshop handles this perfectly in the interface. Still, it displays photos at the native resolution of the panel, which allows for a very high level of detail that amateurs appreciate.

CONCLUSION

The Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 is a perfect 144Hz Ultra HD gaming monitor. It will appeal to video game enthusiasts with a powerful graphics card or a last-generation console. It stands out for its outstanding image quality, excellent responsiveness for an IPS model and meticulous finish. However, the contrast is minimal, especially compared to models with a VA panel. The lack of USB-C charging is also regrettable in this price range.